Family Rift: The Brothers Johannes and Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi Between the World Wars, 1918–1939

Abstract

The article provides an insightful exploration of the intellectual world of Central European aristocracy in the interwar period. Using the example of two members of the Coudenhove-Kalergi family – Pan-European Union founder Richard and his older brother Johannes – it examines how the family navigated the challenges of a highly turbulent era. It compares the approaches of the two brothers, as well as those of other family members, to the political, national and economic issues facing Central Europe. The article highlights the significance of their family background in shaping their personalities, outlining their personal strategies while also pointing out both differences and shared traits. It demonstrates that, while the brothers had a strong connection to Japan through their mother, who was of Japanese origin, they remained part of the broader Germanic milieu of Central Europe. However, they were not nationalists; on the contrary, they viewed the efforts of some nations within the former Austro-Hungarian Empire to break away from the monarchy with disdain. At the same time, the article shows that during this period, they were only half-hearted monarchists, with neither envisioning the future of Central Europe as lying in the restoration of Habsburg rule. Furthermore, the article reveals that although Johannes and Richard did not agree on political or personal matters, their fundamental ideological orientation was not significantly different. Both opposed antisemitism but were critical of liberal democracy and expressed sympathies for far-right dictatorships, particularly the Italian regime, with Johannes even showing an affinity for Nazism. In this respect, both brothers (especially Johannes) could be described as conservative revolutionaries, though they diverged on essential details.